2015 Honda Pilot Adds New Special Edition Trim Level

Honda adds new Special Edition trim level to Pilot lineup

New Pilot SE starts at $33,950; includes a sunroof and DVD player

Pilot will likely be fully redesigned sometime soon

The 2015 Honda Pilot is adding a new Special Edition trim level that offers extra value to shoppers interested in a midsize SUV. That's the latest from Honda, which typically releases Special Edition trims for a vehicle just before it's fully redesigned.

According to Honda, the new 2015 Pilot Special Edition, or SE, starts at $33,950 with shipping. That places it in the middle of the crossover's lineup, between the mid-level EX and leather-trimmed EX-L models. But it offers an especially good value thanks to several new standard features designed to entice family-oriented car shoppers.

The Pilot SE's most important new features are a standard power sunroof, standard Sirius XM satellite radio, and a standard DVD rear entertainment system -- items added with both parents and children in mind. In addition to those extras, the Pilot SE also boasts unique gray alloy wheels and a host of SE badges to help earn its asking price.

Aside from the SE, the Honda Pilot is largely unchanged for 2015. The lineup still includes four other trim levels, namely LX, EX, EX-L and Touring, which start between $30,700 and $40,850 with shipping. That places the new SE on the low end of the Pilot's pricing lineup, which will make it especially appealing for some shoppers.

So what's next for the Pilot? Honda typically releases a Special Edition model about a year before a full redesign, which means the Pilot is likely slated for a major update in the coming months. We can be especially certain of that because its Acura mechanical twin, the MDX, earned its own full redesign for the 2014 model year, so we know the next Pilot can't be too far behind.

What it means to you: The 2015 Honda Pilot SE adds extra value to the aging Pilot ahead of a full redesign.

Doug DeMuro
has a wide range of automotive industry experience, from work at a Ferrari dealership to a manager for Porsche North America. A lifelong car enthusiast, Doug's eclectic vehicle purchases include a Porsche 911 Turbo, an E63 AMG wagon, an old Range Rover and a Mercedes Benz G-wagen.